University of North Carolina Athletics
North Carolina
Virginia
White Pitches Tar Heels Into First Title Game Since 1990
May 26, 2007 | Baseball
May 26, 2007
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - North Carolina freshman Alex White hurled seven shutout innings as the Tar Heels beat Virginia 5-0 on Saturday in the ACC Baseball Championship and advanced to Sunday's title game.
White's performance was his best of the year, as he allowed just two singles and four walks while striking out five. The right-hander only allowed two runners to reach base in the same inning one time, that coming in the sixth inning when he walked two batters.
"I felt I had to go out there and pitch it as hard as I could, especially the first batter in each inning," White said. "Robert Woodard gave me good advice before the game. He said, 'Just out-compete the other players and just try to do the best that you can.'"
White (6-4) was locked in a scoreless pitcher's duel with Virginia's Casey Lambert (2-2) through five innings. But the Tar Heels broke through for a pair of runs in the sixth inning, scoring on Reid Fronk's bloop single to center and adding another on a sacrifice fly by Garrett Gore.
North Carolina (47-12, 21-9) tallied three times in the eighth inning on four singles, none of which left the infield. The three runs came in on Fronk's infield hit, a drag bunt for a hit by Gore and another infield hit by Dustin Ackley.
Andrew Carignan completed the shutout, allowing two hits and striking out two over the final two innings to earn his 12th save of the season.
Virginia (43-14, 19-9) got a pair of hits from John Scaglione but could only advance three runners as far as second base.
North Carolina, the No. 2 seed in the tournament, is in the championship game for the first time in 18 years. The Tar Heels are looking for their first league baseball title since 1990.
"This was obviously a big win for us over a really good Virginia team; one of the best teams we have played all year," North Carolina head coach Mike Fox said. "I feel fortunate that we won. I thought that Lambert and fortunately Alex matched him pitch for pitch. We are excited to have won."
